The Indian Premier League (IPL) awards the Orange Cap to the player who scores the most runs in a season. The IPL introduced this award on 25 April 2008, just one week after the first season kicked off.
Throughout the season, the leading run-scorer wears the Orange Cap while fielding. After the final match, the player with the highest run tally takes home the award.
Shaun Marsh became the first player to wear the Orange Cap during the inaugural season. However, Australia’s Shaun Marsh finished that year as the highest run-scorer and claimed the first-ever Orange Cap award.
Over 18 seasons, this award has celebrated some of the finest batters in world cricket. Names like Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, David Warner, and Virat Kohli have all claimed this prize. It remains one of the most talked-about individual honours in the IPL.
Complete IPL Orange Cap Winners List (2008–2026)
Here is the full list of every Orange Cap winner from the first season to the most recent one:
| Year | Player | Team | Runs | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shaun Marsh | Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) | 616 | 11 | 68.44 |
| 2009 | Matthew Hayden | Chennai Super Kings | 572 | 12 | 52.00 |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | Mumbai Indians | 618 | 15 | 47.53 |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 608 | 12 | 67.55 |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 733 | 15 | 61.08 |
| 2013 | Michael Hussey | Chennai Super Kings | 733 | 17 | 52.35 |
| 2014 | Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 660 | 16 | 44.00 |
| 2015 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 562 | 14 | 43.23 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 973 | 16 | 81.08 |
| 2017 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 641 | 14 | 58.27 |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 735 | 17 | 52.50 |
| 2019 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 692 | 12 | 69.20 |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) | 670 | 14 | 55.83 |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | 635 | 16 | 45.36 |
| 2022 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 863 | 17 | 57.53 |
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 890 | 17 | 59.33 |
| 2024 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 741 | 15 | 61.75 |
| 2025 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 759 | 15 | 54.21 |
Key Records And Facts
Here are the Key Records Regarding IPL’s Orange Cap:
| Record Category | Details | Key Information |
|---|---|---|
| Most Orange Caps | David Warner (3) | Won in 2015, 2017, and 2019. |
| Multiple Winners | Chris Gayle & Virat Kohli | Both have won the award 2 times each. |
| Highest Runs (Single Season) | 973 Runs | Set by Virat Kohli (RCB) in the 2016 season. |
| Back-to-Back Wins | Chris Gayle | The only player to win in consecutive years (2011, 2012). |
| Orange Cap & Trophy Double | Uthappa (2014) & Gaikwad (2021) | Only players to win the Cap and the Title in the same year. |
| Youngest Winner | Sai Sudharsan | 23 years, 231 days (achieved in the 2025 season). |
| Franchise Leaderboard | SRH & RCB (4 each) | SRH: Warner (3), Williamson (1)RCB: Gayle (2), Kohli (2) |
| Country-wise Success | India (8) & Australia (6) | Indian players lead the tally with 8 total wins. |
Season-by-Season Breakdown
Here is the Seasonwise Breakdown of Orange Cap Winners:
2008: Shaun Marsh: Punjab Kings, Then Kings XI Punjab (616 Runs)
Australian left-hander Shaun Marsh set the tone in the very first IPL season. He played just 11 matches for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and piled up 616 runs at an outstanding average of 68.44.
His innings included one century and five half-centuries. Marsh’s best knock of 115 against Rajasthan Royals at Mohali showed his elegant stroke play. His runs helped Punjab reach the semi-finals that year.
2009: Matthew Hayden: Chennai Super Kings (572 Runs)
Matthew Hayden carried forward Australia’s batting tradition in the IPL. Playing for Chennai Super Kings, he smashed 572 runs in 12 matches at an average of 52.00.
His aggressive starts at the top gave CSK a flying platform in most games. Hayden hit five half-centuries during the season and became known for using the Mongoose bat that year.
2010: Sachin Tendulkar: Mumbai Indians (618 Runs)
Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian to win the Orange Cap. Captaining Mumbai Indians, he scored 618 runs in 15 matches at an average of 47.53.
His five half-centuries helped Mumbai reach their first-ever IPL final. Tendulkar proved that his classical batting style worked just as well in the T20 format.
2011: Chris Gayle: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (608 Runs)
Chris Gayle arrived at RCB as a late replacement and turned the tournament upside down. In just 12 matches, he scored 608 runs at an average of 67.55 with a strike rate of 183.13.
His explosive hitting included two centuries and three fifties. Gayle helped RCB reach the final that year, and his power-hitting left every bowling attack scrambling for answers.
2012: Chris Gayle: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (733 Runs)
Gayle became the first player to win back-to-back Orange Caps. He raised the bar even higher in 2012 with 733 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.08.
He hit 59 sixes during the season, more than anyone else. His highest score of 128 not out showed a mix of brute power and sharp timing.
2013: Michael Hussey: Chennai Super Kings (733 Runs)
Michael Hussey matched Gayle’s record of 733 runs in a season. Playing for Chennai Super Kings, he played 17 matches and finished with an average of 52.35.
Hussey hit six half-centuries and anchored CSK’s batting through the tournament. His steady approach at the top balanced perfectly with the firepower in CSK’s middle order.
2014: Robin Uthappa: Kolkata Knight Riders (660 Runs)
Robin Uthappa scored 660 runs in 16 matches for KKR and made history. He became the first batter to win the Orange Cap and the IPL trophy in the same season.
Uthappa scored eight consecutive 40-plus scores during the tournament. His ability to play pace and spin with equal comfort made him the backbone of KKR’s title-winning campaign.
2015: David Warner: Sunrisers Hyderabad (562 Runs)
David Warner claimed his first Orange Cap in 2015 with 562 runs in 14 matches. He averaged 43.23 and hit seven half-centuries for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Warner’s aggressive style at the top gave SRH quick starts, and he took on the role of leader both with bat and as captain.
2016: Virat Kohli: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (973 Runs)
Virat Kohli delivered the greatest individual batting season in IPL history. He scored a record 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03. He hit four centuries during the season, another IPL record.
Kohli led RCB to the final that year, but SRH won the title. His 2016 season remains the gold standard for batting in the IPL, and no one has broken his record of 973 runs in a single season. Kohli would eventually lift the IPL trophy with RCB in 2025, ending an 18-year wait for the franchise.
2017: David Warner: Sunrisers Hyderabad (641 Runs)
Warner returned to claim his second Orange Cap with 641 runs in 14 matches. He averaged 58.27 and scored one century along with four fifties.
Warner led the SRH batting lineup with confidence and aggression, finishing as the top scorer for the second time in three years.
2018: Kane Williamson: Sunrisers Hyderabad (735 Runs)
With David Warner suspended for the 2018 season, Kane Williamson stepped up as SRH captain.
He scored 735 runs in 17 matches at an average of 52.50 and hit eight half-centuries. Williamson’s calm and composed batting guided SRH to the final that year. He became the only non-opener to win the Orange Cap in IPL history.
2019: David Warner: Sunrisers Hyderabad (692 Runs)
Warner made a stunning comeback after missing the entire 2018 season. He scored 692 runs in just 12 matches at a remarkable average of 69.20.
This third Orange Cap made him the only player in IPL history to win the award three times. Warner left the tournament early for World Cup duties, yet no one could catch his run tally.
2020: KL Rahul: Punjab Kings, then Kings XI Punjab (670 Runs)
The 2020 season moved to the UAE due to the pandemic. KL Rahul captained Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and scored 670 runs in 14 matches at an average of 55.83.
His highest score of 132 not out against RCB stood as the best knock by an Indian batter in IPL at the time. Rahul became the third Indian player to claim the Orange Cap, after Sachin Tendulkar (2010) and Robin Uthappa (2014).
2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad: Chennai Super Kings (635 Runs)
Young opener Ruturaj Gaikwad announced himself on the big stage. He scored 635 runs in 16 matches, including one century and four fifties.
Gaikwad became only the second player after Robin Uthappa to win the Orange Cap and the IPL trophy in the same season, as CSK lifted their fourth title. He also became the first uncapped Indian to claim the award.
2022: Jos Buttler: Rajasthan Royals (863 Runs)
England’s Jos Buttler lit up IPL 2022 with an extraordinary run. He scored 863 runs in 17 matches at an average of 57.53 and a strike rate close to 150.
Buttler smashed four centuries during the season, tying Kohli’s record for most hundreds in a single IPL. He led Rajasthan Royals to the final, though they fell short of the title.
2023: Shubman Gill: Gujarat Titans (890 Runs)
Shubman Gill had a dream season for Gujarat Titans. He amassed 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59.33 and hit three centuries along with four fifties.
His tally of 890 runs stands as the second-highest in a single IPL season, behind only Kohli’s 973 in 2016. Gill’s consistency and maturity throughout the season showed why many consider him a future great.
2024: Virat Kohli: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (741 Runs)
Virat Kohli reclaimed the Orange Cap eight years after his record-breaking 2016 season. He scored 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.75.
Kohli became only the third player to win the Orange Cap more than once, joining David Warner and Chris Gayle in that elite group. While RCB missed the title in 2024, Kohli would go on to lift the trophy the very next season in 2025.
2025: Sai Sudharsan: Gujarat Titans (759 Runs)
Gujarat Titans’ left-hander Sai Sudharsan took the 2025 season by storm. He scored 759 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.21 and a strike rate of 156.17. His highest score was an unbeaten 108 against Delhi Capitals.
At just 23 years and 231 days old at the time of the final on 3 June 2025, he became the youngest player to win the Orange Cap, breaking Shubman Gill’s record from 2023. The 2025 season also saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their maiden IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings in the final.
Suggested Reads:
Why the Orange Cap Matters
The Orange Cap is not just about personal glory. It reflects a batter’s ability to stay consistent match after match, against different bowling attacks, and across different pitches. Winning this award means a player has handled pressure, adapted to conditions, and delivered when it counted the most.
Some Orange Cap winners have led their teams deep into the tournament. Uthappa and Gaikwad helped their teams lift the trophy in the same year they won the Orange Cap.
Kohli fell short in 2016 when he took RCB to the final, but he eventually lifted the IPL trophy with RCB in 2025. Either way, the Orange Cap always tells a story of individual brilliance during the IPL season.
As the IPL grows each year, the race for the Orange Cap keeps getting tougher. New talent joins the league, and experienced players push harder. This award will continue to celebrate the best batting performances in the world’s biggest T20 league.
